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Top Brain Boosters

The foods you have in your pantry and fridge may be helping
or hindering your brain.

The foods we choose have a lot to do with how attentive,
alert, focused and happy we feel.

Certain foods may taste great but have additives that literally
cloud our brains and leave us sluggish and dull headed, other times we can eat
certain foods and feel a charge of mental energy and focus.

Here is a quick list of foods that will boost the brain and
others that will drain the brain.

They’re great on their own, added to a shake, to oatmeal, or
even to a salad.

Blueberries are tasty and sweet and loaded with
antioxidants.

They’re packed with vitamin C, K and fiber and high levels
of gallic acid, making them especially good at protecting our brains from
degeneration and stress.

Studies show that eating blueberries can boost focus and
memory for up to 5 hours!

Broccoli

Broccoli is one of the best brain foods, its high levels of
vitamin K and choline (B vitamin) are known for aiding brain development,
keeping the memory sharp and it can protect the brain from later decline with
age.

It’s also loaded with vitamin C.

People usually roll their eyes thinking broccoli is bland and
boring.

Try this Broccoli stir fry - add a bit of olive oil to a pan,
Broccoli, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and a spoonful of orange or lemon
juice.

It has a little heat with the red pepper flakes and a nice
sweetness with the orange juice.

Just one cup provides you with 150 percent of your
recommended daily intake.

DHA is very important for the normal functioning of neurons
in the brain.

Eating more fish often means eating less red meat and other
forms of protein that are high in saturated fats that can clog arteries.

People who are lacking in Omega 3’s can experience mood
swings and feeling edgy or negative.

Omega 3’s have been known to be mood boosters and can enhance
focus and memory.

Avocado

This creamy treat is also a rich source of the antioxidant
vitamin E and C.

Research suggests that foods rich in vitamin E are
associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Brain Drainers

Partially Hydrogenated Oils

Partially hydrogenated oils is code for trans fats, they can
put you at risk for obesity, damaging your heart health and can cause serious
brain drain.

One study found that people who consumed high levels of
trans fats had lower cerebral abilities later in life.

Common culprits include fried foods, baked goods, and
processed foods.

Bake or grill that chicken instead of frying it, have sweet
potatoes instead of French fries and avoid anything wrapped in plastic that
sits on a shelf for months at a time.

Added sugars

The average North American eats 79 pounds of added
sweeteners per year which can cause constant insulin spikes and inflammation
resulting in both vascular and neuronal damage.

One study found that large amounts of sugar caused the
brain's memory control center to become inflamed, meaning it can’t work at 100
percent and brain function slows down.

Another analysis found that high sugar intake is linked to
depression. If you are an emotional eater, when you eat something sweet there’s
an initial high, it feels good at first but then once it starts to be processed
in the body there’s a heaviness that follows.

Saturated fat

A diet high in saturated fat can decrease the brain’s
ability to fight the formation of Alzheimer's.

Saturated fat impairs your brain's ability to learn and form
new memories within as little as 10 minutes after ingesting them.

Processed meats such as bacon, pepperoni, sausage, or
chorizo are examples of very tasty foods that are high in saturated fat.

We all like to indulge from time to time and that is fine,
but when saturated fats are always in your diet, then it’s going to take a toll.